Ricky Gilmore, 49, shows the pair of pants he was wearing when he dragged himself four miles down a road for three days last week near Tocito, N.M., after a man and woman he met while he was hitchhiking left him without his wheelchair. (Courtesy Augusta Liddic/The Daily Times
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Paraplegic crawls three days through New Mexico desert to safety
Ricky Gilmore, 49, never suspected that he would be dragging himself up a deserted highway when he went on a joy ride with a couple that he met while hitchhiking.
Gilmore says that he invited the couple over to his house for a couple of steaks.
Later that evening, Gilmore and the couple embarked on what he thought was going to be a joyride. After Gilmore refused to share his alcohol with the couple, the man parked the truck, grabbed him by his feet and drug him out of the vehicle, according to reports.
Without food, water or his wheelchair, Gilmore began dragging himself up the desolate road. Altogether, Gilmore traveled over four miles.
“It was dark and I was shivering and the wind was blowing, so I just crawled to a bush and dug in right there. It was cold that night,” Gilmore told Sky News.
“I started dragging myself. I did the same thing all day and I only got about two miles,” he said.
Astonishingly two cars passed the desperate man but did not stop.
“I could have easily gave up and said forget it, but I said I’m not going to freeze out here and I just kept on going,” he said.
Finally, after more than three days had passed, a motorist stopped to help him.
“I don’t think I would have made it another night,” Mr Gilmore said.
Gilmore had to stay in the intesive care unit for two days, and suffers from a sprained wrist, blood infection and kidney failure. The doctors say that it will be at least another week before Gilmore can return home.
